Introduction: Next up in our filler-spool style round up of fishing lines is the fluorocarbon product from Gary Yamamoto Custom Baits, Sugoi Fluorocarbon. Interestingly enough, this is almost a tale of two lines. For the last several years, I was under the impression, the Sugoi FC was only produced in one color, gray. It wasn't until recently I was made aware that it is now available in clear as well! The gray Sugoi is marketed as their "Casting" line while the clear is
labeled as their "Flippin' & Drop Shot" line. We tried to procure some of the clear in 12lb test to compare the two products, but for whatever reason, we were unable to do so. As a result, the following review pertains to the gray product and we can only assume the clear handles and tests in exactly the same manner.

Introducing Gary Yamamoto Custom Bait's Sugoi 100% fluorocarbon line

Sugoi Fluorocarbon Specifications

Line Type

Fluorocarbon

Colors Available

Gray & Clear

Colors Tested

Gray Only

Line Weights

8, 10, 12, 14, 16 (Gray) : 5, 6, 8, 12, 20, 25 (Clear)

Line Weights Tested

12lb

MSRP

$21.98 (12lb/130yds)

Lab Tests: Given the results of our Trilene FC tests and how that product behaved when wet, we've gone back to the lab with our remaining FC's and tested them wet as well to see how a two hour plus soak in room temperature water affects their performance characteristics.

Spooled and ready to go on a Daiwa Steez 103HL

Dry, there are no real surprises with the Sugoi FC product when taken over the whole of our 14 product field in the Fluorocarbon Showdown articles. It tests out pretty much at the median in terms of material strength, stretch, and abrasion resistance, but when wet, we were surprised to see the abrasion resistance test results went way down.

Knot Strength: Knot strength for our Sugoi FC test product was fair to good for a fluorocarbon testing out on average at 82% over our five test knots. Though good, for those who expect more from their fishing lines in general, this is still disappointing. In our tests, it seems the Palomar knot suits the Sugoi FC quite well.

Sugoi Fluorocarbon Knot Tests (##lb - 0.##mm)

San Diego Jam

Improved Clinch

Trilene

Uni

Palomar

Avg Knot Strength (%)

Avg Knot Strength (lbs)

80.3%

80.3%

78.8%

81.8%

89.4%

82.1%

10

Values expressed as percentage of TESTED WET tensile strength

Impressions: I actually fished the Sugoi FC a year or two prior to our Showdown article and well before any of our extensive new lab tests and frankly, I really liked the line. My only problem with it back then was number one, the color, and number two, the fact that it was not a very manageable line. Funny thing is, I purchased some new spools for our tests and filled up a couple of reels to get reacquainted with the line and now that I've been fishing FC lines for some time, I find the Sugoi product perfectly manageable.

A nice
healthy bass courtesy of Sugoi FC

What to Expect:If you're unaccustomed to some of the higher priced FC's on the market today, you'll find the Sugoi product difficult to manage - as did I when I first started using it. On baitcasting gear, it's easy to grow accustomed to, but spinning gear is probably another story. I find Sugoi FC really is one of the better handling, high quality lines on the market today. Sensitivity is what I'd expect from a line of this caliber and that's very good. The only
really downside is cost and the limited availability of large spools and that gray color. If you can find the clear stuff in the pound test you like, all the better.

Though gray on the spool, the color is none too noticeable when coming off the reel.

I find it odd the results we had with this line after soaking it for over two hours and throwing it on our abrasion tester. The drop in performance was something I did not expect as on the water, abrasion was quite good and I found myself performing far fewer reties than usual while fishing jigs. I suppose everything is relative but this is also why we conduct lab tests AND on the water tests, so we can put some real world relevance to our data.

Ratings (We've re-calibrated our ratings standard for 2008 and have included a key at the bottom of the following matrix as a guide):

Sugoi Fluorocarbon Ratings (?/10)

Construction/Quality

Very smooth, high quality line

7.5

Performance

Good sensitivity and abrasion resistance even if it did not test well in the lab

7.5

Price

About what you'd expect from one of the higher quality FC's on the market - expensive

6

Features

Good strength with the Palomar knot, about average in other lab categories though on the water, sensitivity is superb.

J Despite lab tests, I have confidence in this product's abrasion resistance

The Sugoi FC is a very nice line for jigs and plastics.

Conclusion: The Sugoi Fluorocarbon product is one I will continue to use especially if I can find it in clear. Its strength with my favorite knot is reassuring and its handling is actually quite good - in fact, better than I had remembered. While I won't go running to spool it on my spinning reels, I've actually grown quite accustomed to having stiffer lines on my baitcasting gear. I'm all for the trade off of stiffer lines if it means increasing sensitivity, and the Sugoi FC is right up there with Sunline's Shooter FC and Toray's Superhard Upgrade FC in terms of sensitivity. For that, as with the other two lines mentioned, it makes a great line for fishing jigs and plastics.